Cafe Rustica
- Hours:
Tue-Sun 11 am - 2:30 pm
Tue-Sun 5 pm - 9 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- Yes
110 reviews for Cafe Rustica
Review Highlights
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"For dessert we had the vanilla creme brulee." In 8 reviews -
"blueberry brioche bread pudding was yum." In 8 reviews -
"Red leaf/butter lettuce salad with pears, candied walnuts..." In 5 reviews
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110 reviews in English
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Review from Nicole D.
Monterey, CA
5/19/2012 4 photos
Cafe Rustica really encapsulates the Carmel Valley charm. Nestled in the idyllic Carmel Valley Village, you will find Cafe Rustica, which boasts magnificent 360 views. Carmel Valley's neat microclimate is ideal for producing some of California's most prestigious wines - and for creating a warm, natural playground for locals and tourists alike. Take advantage of the surrounding beautiful vistas and sit on their large shaded outdoor patio or dine inside and immerse yourself in their cozy cabin-like retreat, complete with a brick fireplace, beautiful stones walls and large French doors.
We came in for lunch and I went for one of their wood-fired pizzas - Jose's Chile Verde Pizza - and my mom chose the brimming Salmon Sandwich. Pizza was terrific! Thin crust variety with loads of chicken, sausage, a variety of cheeses, cilantro and tomatoes. I'm coming to find that Carmel Valley is the best pizza artist around Monterey County. No need to be relegated to the overly crowded, bustling Gianni's for our pizza search anymore (I do enjoy my Gianni's but like to infuse some variety into my eats).
My mom had the Salmon Burger, which she had to bring half home due to the large size. This behemoth was quite a (seafood) catch! Lean, moist and not overseasoned or overcooked. A nice healthy alternative to a beef burger without surrendering too much on flavor. Served with a bed of salad greens for pleasing nutritious meal.
Cafe Rustica is a wonderful option for relaxing amid some tasty food, great drinks and some awesome views. Right next door is a great tasting room and art gallery so you can keep the good times rolling. I ran into one of my cool Yelp friends here, Bill H. Of course we swapped some funny Yelp stories and news :-) -
Review from jesse p.
Monterey, CA
5/25/2012
This is such a quality restaurant. I had a salad and a salmon pizza served with creme fraiche that melted in your mouth. This was a very cost effective way to get the whole Cafe Rustica experience (think world class food, lovely atmosphere with inside or outside dining, sunshine away from the coast, flowers and friendly people).
We have been here many times and have never been disappointed. -
Review from Nick P.
San Jose, CA
5/17/2012
I've been to Cafe Rustica twice within the last couple months and am definitely a fan. My last dining experience was great for me though ho-hum for my family. To my knowledge, this is the only place on the peninsula where you can find goulash, a beef-based stew-like dish popularized in Central European. There are a few variants; this one was served on top of egg noodles and was very good. It reminded me of a similar dish I wolfed down whilst in Prague (no noodles for the Czechs thogh). By the way, the butter lettuce salad is one of the best starter salads you will ever eat.
The pizza selection and quality is very appealing from what I've seen thus far. I also recall eating one of their sandwiches for lunch and enjoying it very much.
The servers are very friendly and courteous, too. Overall, this is an excellent, charming restaurant in Carmel Valley.
Now for the picky stuff:
A couple of downsides: Though I'm fairly young and don't have much of an income, I still find this place a little overpriced. Then again, this is the Monterey Peninsula. Second, my family was a little turned off by the delay in the entrees, the quality of the table bread, and a couple other minor gripes (for exampled, about the quality of a particular component in their meal). I'm not as picky though so for me this is an establishment I'd easily recommend. -
Review from Tricia D.
Pebble Beach, CA
5/8/2012
I am thrilled that my daughter chose for us to travel to beautiful Carmel Valley today so we could try Cafe Rustica. The shaded patio was the perfect setting for a most perfect meal. We shared Jose's pizza verde and also ordered the grilled salmon filet sandwich. Both were exceptionally good, as was the service. I enjoyed the views while dining outside, but also took a peek inside to see the interior of the restaurant.....very cozy. I love cozy, and definitely plan to return to this rustic hideaway(soon!).
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Review from Sameen G.
Monterey, CA
4/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Our entire meal was fantastic. From the restaurant's rustic elegance, to the service, to the food itself--everything was perfect.
I had the Butternut Squash Raviolis, topped with bread crumbs and fresh sage in a beurre blanc sauce. I have had many a butternut squash ravioli in my life and these blew all others away.
My boyfriend had the Chicken Apple Sausages, served with braised apple-red cabbage, au gratin potatoes, and caramelized red onions. After I polished off my ravioli, I tried his meal, and it too was sublime.
For dessert, we shared the apple tart. It was very different from other tarts I've had, and I liked it more than I anticipated. With many apple pies/tarts/cobblers, I expect to be disappointed by a somewhat goopy consistency. This was different. It was served warm, but was very solid and not at all mushy. Absolutely delicious alongside a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream.
The whole experience was phenomenal. -
Review from Brian S.
Enid, OK
3/17/2012 1 photo
The overall design of the restaurant is beautiful. On a beautiful day, the outside seating is fantastic in the great carmel valley. Inside, the interior is greatly designed. The food menu primarily consist (when I was there on lunch) of: pizza, sandwiches, and other italian plates. I had the rigatoni, which was, in my opinion, has nothing that distinguishes itself from any other pasta dish. I didn't have a chance to partake in the actual pizza's but judging on other people foods the pizza looked fantastic. The pizza that the menu describes seems delicious. My Mom who was with me had a albacore sandwich which used a croissant, and it tasted fantastic.
So, overall, the place is a great place to have lunch, brunch, or dinner. Great locale. The food, in my opinion, is very vast and offers a great selection of Italian foods to indulge yourself in. I had a caramel desert which WAS AMAZING. The desert was very nicely decorated and tasted amazing.
The waitress was great. Very professional, polite, and knowledgeable of the food she served. She even served me parmeasean cheese herself and had put my to go food in the box herself as well. Very good waiting services.
Great place! -
Review from Rajendra S.
Monterey, CA
4/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
Stopped in for pizza and dessert post wine tasting. This place was dynamite! Had the special dessert of the day which was a mixed berry bread pudding and also had vanilla bean gelato on the side. It was delicious!
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Review from charley w.
Monterey, CA
4/14/2012
Just the best in Carmel Valley. Consistent quality, nice atmosphere, you can sit out in the cute patio on a warm day, and the food is good across the board. We try to get out there every couple of months are are never disappointed. Other restaurants out there come and go with a brief marketing flash, but this one has staying power for all the good reasons. There are a number of seafood pastas and pizzas that are very very fairly priced.
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Review from N Family N.
San Ramon, CA
4/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
We came here for dinner on Easter Sunday. We were told that we would have a seat on the veranda. To us, that meant outside on a balcony. Isn't taht was a veranda is? NO, apparently it is a back room that is covered in canvas striped tarps with heat lamps on. We were at the very back most table. We worried that we would be forgotten but we were not. The waitstaff was very attentive but we just were so disppointed with our seating when we say so many unused tables in the main restaurant and outside on the patio. We were there at 5:30. The food was ok nothing special. We liked our BLT salads but the bacon bits were burnt. The carrot soup I had wasn't too special either but I still would say go just ask for better seating.
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Review from Yuri G.
San Jose, CA
1/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
Delicious! I went here on a tip from a friend of a friend, on a weeknight in January, alone (awkward, I know).
Excellent, prompt, and totally friendly service (with available outdoor/patio seating). Most importantly, the food was unbelievable. I stuff my face with an appetizer in the form of some shrimp skewers (very nice!), some cream of mushroom soup, and the special, which was sole fillet with potatoes au gratin under the fish itself. All three items were just really good... especially the sole, which was tasty in a subtle way. Very impressive.
Would go again. -
Review from Anthony P.
Marina, CA
I took my girlfriend here yesterday after having really good experiences here in the past. We arrived around 12:30 for lunch and it was a beautiful day so we wanted to eat outdoors. Unfortunately I didn't make a reservation as I never had to in the past, but this prevented us from enjoy their outdoor patio. That was not a problem, inside of their restaurant is lovely and charming as well with their beautiful stone walls.
We sat at a tall table that was placed right next to a window which offered a nice view of their garden.Our server was really nice and knowledgeable when describing the daily specials.
We ended up ordering off the menu and got the Grilled Eggplant Napoleon on a toasted brioche with fresh mozzarella, roasted red peppers,basil, pine nuts and kalamata olives for 9.75 as our appetizer. This was one of the best appetizer I have ever had being full of flavor and having magnificent texture!
For our entrees we both ordered their gourmet pizzas. I got the Flammekueche. The pizza consists of diced prosciutto, onions, fresh thyme and creme fraiche. My girlfriend ordered The Dynamite - Italian fennel sausage, Black Forest ham and pepperoni, pizza sauce and mozzarella. When the pizzas arrived, he let my girlfriend pick which one she wanted making her feel special and me happy. Of course she had to pick the pizza I ordered! But we shared so it didn't really matter. The pizzas are thin crust and the bread itself is flavorful. We both agreed that the Flammekueche pizza was the best one, but both are absolutely divine. We didn't order dessert as the meal was filling, we even got a box to go!
One negative was how long it took for us to get our check. It wouldn't have been as bad if we didn't have be at Chateau Julien for our tour of their winery. However, when I asked for the check, the server saved himself by saying, "sorry, I assume everyone never wants to leave this beautiful place." And I wouldn't if I didn't have to be somewhere.
Overall thoughts: Delicious food! Well worth the drive to get here!!!Listed in: Favorite Places in Monterey…
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Review from E K.
Sunnyvale, CA
2/29/2012
Went on a Saturday around 6:30 pm. We hadn't made reservations and were in danger of not getting a table for another hour, but luckily a table opened up after all. We got seated after 5 min wait. Yay.
Service was friendly. Excellent wine recommendation -- Sylvestrie Chardonnay from the local area (Carmel) was surprisingly excellent and not that expensive. Delicious.
We were given bread right away, but unfortunately it was cold. Would've been nice if they warmed the bread. Butter was yummy - right amount of creaminess and saltiness.
Had the dynamite pizza, which is the meaty one. Overall pretty good, but wish it had more sauce; it was a little dry. The spinach salad was very good -- well dressed and evenly coated, with excellent roasted red peppers and goat cheese. Also had tortellini in cream sauce -- very good. Lots of veggies like spinach, mushrooms, artichoke in the sauce, with cheese in the tortellini. There were also fresh shavings to parmesen on top. They top everything with white pepper they grind at the table, which had a subtle taste. I think I prefer black pepper though.
Atmosphere was like a lodge, kinda homey, very comfortable, on the verge of being romantic but not overly so. I liked it. -
Review from Konrad v.
Redwood City, CA
2/14/2012
Just a delightful and pretentious place to have a good lunch! Their pizzas are excellent - thin crust, crunchy with very creative toppings. My veggie was simply delicious. Wife's sand dabs good too. Sit outside if you can, the heaters will keep you warm. About a 30 minute ride from town of Carmel.
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Review from Christina J.
San Ramon, CA
3/19/2012
After such good reviews on yelp, my family decided to give cafe rustica a try. We had two of our boys with us (ages 5,2) so wanted to make sure it was family friendly. The host was very accommodating and led us to a table in the back patio that was nice and secluded so my boys could enjoy eating and playing.
The food was very good- would highly suggest the butternut squash ravioli and the roasted chicken- so tender. My husbands sole on the special menu was a bit on the dry side and for $23 didn't seem worth it. Surprisingly the kids rigatoni with cheese was delicious- the cheese had a hint of brown butter sage. Overall a pleasant experience- we will be back! -
Review from S G.
San Francisco, CA
2/28/2012
I was greeted by the owner who was acting as the host and directing everything. He was dry but pleasant. He did his best to seat us promptly at the lunch hour. The hamburger was mediocre, don't order unless you really are dying to have a hamburger. I expected more from a place like this. The mushroom pizza was beautiful. But the sauteed onions on it were a bit too sweet. I would definitely go back. It has a wonderful ambiance especially in the back of the yard. Quite cozy. The interior was a bit claustrophobic.
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Review from Joshua R.
Redwood City, CA
10/1/2011
Oof. Comme je suis desole, cher resto!
Yeah, I'm sorry to have to say that I was less than wowed by my last meal at Cafe Rustica. Lovely place, of course, and I do love sitting outside on an indian summer night, but the atmosphere is what's keeping them in the three-star range, not the food or the service.
We were a large group, but we had made reservations ahead of time so there's no reason the server should have been on the less-than-friendly side of attitude. It was clear that she was not thrilled to be working our group, and while her actual service was error-free, when I wanted to pony up and surprise the group by paying for our four bottles of wine ahead of time, I got a snappish "It's a big group, it's all going on one ticket" response. Sadly, she ended up splitting it off anyway, but by that point she had ticked me off so the gesture felt forced.
And the food was inconsistent. I loved the tasty skin of my duck, but the flesh was dry and over cooked. My braised cabbage was really good, but the mashed potatoes were cold. For dessert, the sauce was overly sharp and the pastry was slightly stale. My dining companion's portion of ravioli was small and had no sides or starter, and was in the "OK" flavor range. On the plus side, my mushroom soup starter had excellent texture and flavor.
Bottom Line:
If you really believe that "Hell is other people", perhaps hospitality is a poor choice of working environments. -
Review from Paul L.
Seaside, CA
3/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
This was my fourth time here, so obviously I think it's worth coming back. Food is great, and the patio is a great place for a wonderful lunch with a glass of wine while enjoying the beautiful Carmel Valley weather.
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Review from Olivia G.
Granite Bay, CA
1/28/2012
Pretty good. Had pea soup and a slice of pizza.
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Review from Kirk H.
San Rafael, CA
2/6/2012
Some people would call this a five star restaurant and I would not argue with them. The 5th star should really-really mean something, and so it is missing only because I will admit that when I left, I still had my socks on (-:
The service staff was impressive and personal. I knew we were due for an excellent meal the moment we were met at the door. Throughout the meal, we were attended to exactly as we required - nothing less and nothing more. I enjoyed watching the other tables receive the same treatment.
The food is excellent, the atmosphere is sweet, lively, and fun. The menu has a variety of excellent choices. I ordered the Lamp Sirloin, my wife - the Pork Medallians. The Lamb was medium rare and was prepared perfectly. The presenation included an artfull arrangement of potatoes au gratin. The lamb was coated with a light wine shallot sauce that was exquisite to experience. I can not speak to the medalians, except to say that my wife was very pleased.
And, yes the menu is pricey but not above what you would expect to pay for fine cuisine in the heart of Carmel Valley. Two people will have a nice meal for between $50-$100.
This is a restaurant that takes great pride in its product and the service. To not give them a chance to impress you would be a shame.
Kirk -
Review from Shiho F.
Carmel by the Sea, CA
Updated - 8/27/2011 11 photos
I don't remember Cafe Rustica being so lovely...
We enjoyed the Today's Special a Petrale Sole served with Mashed Potatoes (Au Gratin were sold out) and a sautee of Spinach and Asparagus, a delicious nice sized pizza called The Dynamite which had Black Forest Ham, Pepperoni and Italian Sausage.
The Cattleman's Rib Eye Steak came with sauteed green beans, a peppercorn sauce poured right over the steak and mashed potatoes (out of Au Gratin, my favorite!). The butter lettuce salad was nice and refreshing and helped balance out our meal but our highlight was the Butterscotch Pudding!!! Killer.
All of this went down smoothly alongside our bottle of Whispering Angel. Thank you Mary Ann for the best birthday gift ever, both tasty and memorable. Just wish you were there too!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/22/2007
Great outdoor patio dining and fun little "rustic" eatery. Great food. This is the type of place… Read more »
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Review from Ralph T.
Stateline, NV
Updated - 12/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Dinner this time.
We dined here with some friends on Sunday evening. We were seated right away and served bread and offered water while we waited for two others to arrive.
Sitting indoors reminded me of a few authentic European restaurants we have been to. The atmosphere is cozy with wood and stone decor. There is an open kitchen but it does not create a lot of noise.
We initially ordered the escargot and calamari appetizers. The escargot didn't have enough garlic and a little too much spinach flavor for me. But the escargot was tender and tasty. My wife thought it was fine but did comment on the lack of garlic-we both love garlic.
The calamari was good. Tender, not oily and had good flavors.
Both dishes had the proper amount of food.
I ordered the Hungarian goulash. My wife had the pork medallions while our friends had the pizza Marguerite and a rib eye steak.
The goulash had great flavors with probably roast or tri tip points. The pasta was cooked properly and the flavors went well together. I ate about half so I get to have it for lunch for a couple of days.
The pork was a good size cut. The flavors were great but the meat was either overcooked or cooked too fast. It was a little chewy.
I tried my friends rib eye. Wow, very tender with a great with a green peppercorn sauce. It was not too peppery, but again so tender.
I also tried the butter lettuce and the Caesar salad. Both good with the Caesar having a lot of large Parmesan slices. I again thought not enough garlic in the Caesar but just probably me.
We tried a bottle of Dehesa Gago Tempernillo from Spain. Our first bottle was corked when we tried it we could immediately tell. We told the waiter and he looked at us weird. I told him try it and tell me what you think. He took the bottle back, no problem and brought another bottle over and told us the owner said it was bad. So we were happy that we were not nuts. IT WAS BAD-----REALLY. I thought wine prices for the local wines were a little high but the out-of-the-area wines were on price point.
For dessert we tried the hazelnut gelato. As good as it gets and quite a bit for 6.95. I've paid near that in Rome for the best gelato I have ever had.
Overall the dining experience was excellent. Service was attentive and smooth. Except for the wine issue which was out of their control and my wife's pork medallions we all thought the meal was excellent.
We will be back and you should try it tooooooooo.....1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/26/2011
Had lunch here with some friends. This is a lovely setting in the Village of Carmel Valley. They… Read more »
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Review from Scott S.
Monterey, CA
1/29/2012
The Butternut Squash Ravioli is worth a trip to Carmel Valley just for this dish! I haven't been disappointed at Cafe Rustica and the prices are reasonable.
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Review from Karen B.
Roseville, CA
8/26/2011
Can't believe I haven't reviewed this place previously. It is absolutely my husband's and my favorite restaurant anywhere! Perfect food. Perfect Service. We followed the owners to this current location after first falling in love with their food at their previous restaurant in Monterey.
I just wish they would decide to open a restaurant in the city where I live! -
Review from Adam S.
Carmel, CA
12/13/2011
Our 3rd visit in about 8 weeks; great food, great wine, great value. Best pizza anywhere, and the salads can easily feed 2 (the roasted vegetable salad is not to miss). Have only gone for Sunday brunches, and the only hitch is they don't make Mimosas (uh, they have champaign.... and they have orange juice....so please just bring both...) But the sans-mimosas not withstanding, they still deserve 5 stars.
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Review from Rob R.
Los Angeles, CA
2/28/2011
I really don't want to give a superlative rating to a restaurant unless it deserves it. Cafe Rustica is worthy, and is an extraordinary pleasure in a time where great food and excellent service is very hard to find.
My party did not order anything fancy. Rather, we had pizzas (one mushroom and one vegetarian) and vegetable salads. As bland as that may sound, the chef (super nice guy) did such a great job with everything that we we practically licked our plates. We finished everything off with an amazing chocolate gelato that was as good as the stuff you get in Paris.
Carmel Valley is a very nice place to stroll and do wine tastings. When you're there, and you get hungry, go to Cafe Rustica to cap off a great day. I will return to try other items as soon as I can. -
Review from Nikki R.
Los Angeles, CA
6/10/2011
One of our favorite places in Carmel Valley, we almost always stop in for lunch of dinner at least once during a visit. Great food, wonderful service, comfortable atmosphere. We ended up here twice during our last trip.
At dinner, I ordered the beef short rib. It was tender, juicy, fall apart goodness, served over mashed potatoes and with al dante green beans. It was such a large portion that I felt as if I barely made a dent in it - but it was oh so good!
At lunch a few days later, Todd and I split one of their pizzas (something with a verde sauce) and each ordered a salad. I love all of their salads, but the beet is my absolute favorite. The pear and gorgonzola is also a great choice.
Great wine list featuring many of the local wineries. We'll be back soon, of course! -
Review from Michelle G.
Campbell, CA
6/3/2011
My boyfriend and I went here upon recommendation by our inn keeper and scrutiny of Yelp reviews. While the service and ambiance were very pleasant, I have to agree with another reviewer that overall, the food here is pretty bland.
The half rotisserie chicken had flavor, though my bf said Rock Bottom Brewery's is better by far. The sole special was bland with the exception of the over buttery sauce. The white bean salad with shrimp skewers was bland overall and the beans a little "al dente". The split pea soup was completely bland. Even the wine (Heller Estates Chardonnay) was bland!
We had a good experience despite the food, just wish the quality was better. I wouldn't go back at this price, or any other I think. -
Review from Jane E.
San Anselmo, CA
12/9/2011
A friend recommended this restaurant so we drove up there for lunch and I must say it was delicious. I ate everything on the plate. I ordered the special - Sand Dabs with an aioli type sauce, german potato salad and butter lettuce salad. All tasted very yummy. We sat outside in the winter warm sun and savored our meal. Next we are going to try he Monterey Fish Company Restaurant which we hear is fantastic. I can hardly wait!
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Review from homer a.
Seaside, CA
7/28/2011
This is one fine restaurant. You can sit inside or out, which is a delight on those warm summer evenings out in the valley. Even though the place has passed though several hands over the last couple of years, it has maintained its high standards, and the service is impeccable. Beef short ribs are outstanding although most of the menu focuses on French or Italian items. You won't go wrong here.
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Review from Amalia K.
Arlington, VA
1/30/2011
Cafe Rustica is average. It's a very popular choice as so many seem to recommend it and it was packed at lunch on a Saturday in January. However, the food does not live up to the hype and I would not classify it as "fine dining". We had a very poorly prepared artichoke (odd for that area) that was water logged with no flavor and a sauce of what tasted like Miracle Whip. My husband's sole had way too much butter in the sauce (as others have said) and my tri tip salad was beyond average.
Service was hit or miss. Though sitting outside was nice. There are other options to explore if you want a nicer meal. -
Review from Saralee S.
San Luis Obispo, CA
10/3/2011
Visited again for lunch, and was even more pleased by the varied menu. I ordered my basic Caesar with grilled shrimp, and was delighted with Italian parmesan and real Caesar dressing, with the lightly garlicked shrimp. We shared some fried Calimari, a generous portion, and slightly spicy, The walnut pear and cranberry salad was sweet and refreshing, and my beau's turkey, bacon and cheese hot sandwich was enough for two meals. I sampled his german potato salad, and dug right in! A glass pitcher of sauvignon blanc turned into two glasses of wine for my order, and a wedding across the street provided a sweet seranade in the dappled afternoon light1
Listed in: Road trips
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Review from Matthew J.
San Jose, CA
Today was, "Thanks for your patience day!"
It took forever to see a sever. They could of offered water for our wait, but they didn't!
I ordered local wine, Snosrap '08 Pinot, nice!
The glass had lint from the towel, but I was glad the wine was good!
Marinated Shrimp Skewers- the shrimp was great and the greens, fresh, like it was just picked!
Smoked Salmon Pizza- Outstanding!! A must try!!!
The Dynamite Pizza-Traditional and satisfying!
I'm alittle irritated due to the wait. I think they were overwhelmed with the amount of customers on a Tuesday @1345 hrs!
Overall, the food was fabulous!
The service Sucked!!
That's why I must give them 3 stars. It's all about the customer, making them feel appreciated, but the food...ummm good!
It's now 1447 hrs, and desert arrived, Creme Bruele...on the house!! Wow, classy!! Due to the wait.
You just earned back a star!! -
Review from Kitty C.
San Francisco, CA
11/1/2011
Was staying at Bernardus Lodge over the past weekend and was searching for somewhere to eat around the area. I remember yelping and finding just a few places close by and decided on Cafe Rustica.
I must say we were pleasantly surprised. Lucky pick! It was a cool night and the stars were shining so brightly. We dined out by the patio since our dog Butter was with us. They had outdoor heating lamps too so it was nice and comfy.
Bread was yummy. Wine was yummy. I got the fish special of the day and the boyfriend had the rib eye steak. My fish was good but the steak was grrrrreat! Service that evening at around 8:20pm was also excellent. They kept on checking if we were ok. Had the dessert of bread pudding with fresh berries to go and that too was good. All in all a cozy little place that served up good food and that I would definitely return to. I am surprised there are only 85 reviews so Im adding one more :) Try it! -
Review from brenda l.
Monterey, CA
7/20/2011
Cute cute cute, with good food and you can eat in or out. Friendly. Too bad the prices are a little on the high side or it would be 4 or 5 stars.
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Review from Scott G.
Carmichael, CA
11/26/2011
Great ambience, very good food, professional service. Roasted chicken was amazing, and I usually don't rave about chicken. Eat the skin. Delicious clams for an appy, and tasty mushroom pizza. Cozy and Warm. Highly recommended.
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Review from Eddie W.
4/17/2010 5 photos
I consider myself a Monterey local so I am ashamed to say that today was my first time ever venturing to Carmel Valley. The drive there was long but the wonderful sunny weather made the drive quite pleasant. While it was quite a journey to get to Cafe Rustica I would just like to say it was well worth the trip.
With the weather being so great we decided to take advantage of their outdoor patio area. For starters, we ordered the crispy calamari with their special chili aioli. The breading on the calamari was sensational but the calamari itself was under seasoned. When paired with that magnificent aioli the dish was complete. There was just enough heat without overpowering the dish and gave it a great savory boost.
I decided to order the Flammekueche Pizza: diced prosciutto, onions, fresh thyme and creme fraiche for lunch while my friend got the Grilled Eggplant Sandwich: smoked mozzarella on ciabatta, roasted red peppers, lettuce and caramelized onions.
The pizza was razor thin giving a great textural crunch to the dish. With each bite there was a different layer of flavor. Sometimes you would get a bite of salty goodness from the prosciutto or a delicate hint of sweetness from the red onions. When everything was eaten together, it was a melding of happiness in my mouth. As for the sandwich, I thought the eggplant was a tad too slimy but my friend liked it.
For dessert, I ordered their special of the day, the chocolate crème brûlée. The caramelized sugar on top broke perfectly, music to my ears. While the filling had a slight bitterness it had a great sweet finish. As for my friend, he ordered the bread pudding and thought that it was good. I'm not a fan of bread pudding so I was impartial to the dish.
Finally, our glasses of water and iced tea were never empty, just one indicator of their wonderful service.
Overall Thoughts
A journey well worth taking for amazing food.Listed in: Best Restaurants In Monterey…
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Review from rednikki Q.
Monterey, CA
9/12/2008
I have met the perfect creme brulee, and it lives at Cafe Rustica.
My ex-husband and I spent much of our marriage searching for the perfect creme brulee. We found one which had a great crust but was in a very narrow and deep ramekin. Another was in a shallow, wide ramekin, providing the perfect ratio of brulee and creme, but the crust wasn't quite dark enough. We'd talk about the perfect creme brulee deep into the night - and even now, post-divorce, whenever we see each other, we hunt for it.
Perhaps, had we been to Cafe Rustica while we were married, their creme brulee would have held our marriage together longer.
Oh, sure, there were other wonderful things. The heirloom tomato and mozzarella salad that was perfectly salted. The pungent, yet fruity olives that still held an almost grape-like texture. My boyfriend's roast chicken, which he said would be worth giving up my vegetarianism to try (I was tempted...) My tortellini with cream sauce, which despite being rich wasn't overly heavy. And the wonderfully curated wine list.
But all pales in comparison to the creme brulee, which is the platonic ideal of what creme brulee should be. I thought I would only ever taste creme brulee like this in my dreams. Cafe Rustica has brought my dessert dream into the waking world. -
Review from Chris Q.
San Francisco, CA
2/13/2007
Oh my god is this place amazing. I had no idea the Carmel "Village" even existed, but one of the locals at a downtown coffee shop tipped us off.
It's about a 15 minute drive up the hills, and for a while you'll feel like you're just heading off into the forest -- just be patient.
This place has excellent food, wonderful staff, and the space is beautiful.
The gourmet pizzas are a great option if you want to keep the cost low, but everything here is well worth the price. My bullshit meter goes way up whenever I go to a pricier restaurant, and there was no bullshit to be found at Cafe Rustica. Everything from the appetizer salad to the dessert was wonderful.
Great place to take anyone you want to impress. -
Review from Lonnie R.
Danville, CA
8/17/2010
Sat outside on the patio for dinner on Thursday evening and had a very nice dinner. Patio heaters are strategically placed for comfort. Interesting menu, I went with the Hungarian Goulash. Very tasty dish. My wife had the sea bass and said it was just OK. A bit too much butter in the sauce for her tastes. Wait staff is very good. We had a guy who looked just like Apollo Ono wait on us. I bet he is tired of hearing this.
Eat here, you will like it. -
Review from Raul N.
4/18/2010 2 Check-ins Here
With a break in the rain, my coworkers and I headed out to Café Rustica for a team lunch. While it's a bit of a drive, this quaint restaurant out in Carmel Valley serves up some pretty good meals. I'd eaten dinner here a few times, but this was my first trip out to Café Rustica for lunch.
We ordered a few appetizers to share--calamari, roasted artichoke, eggplant Napolitano, a mushroom pizza and a beet salad. I was a fan of the calamari--not too greasy and just a touch of breading. The beet salad got rave reviews, but I'm not a fan of beets. (It's a color thing--should I really be consuming something that's leaving a neon purple residue on my plate?)
I ordered the herb-roasted chicken breast sandwich, with butter lettuce, Provolone, roasted red peppers and house-caramelized tomatoes on ciabatta. The flavors paired nicely--the caramelized tomatoes were really quite outstanding and added a nice, sweet flavor that was more elegant than simply using ketchup. But wow, this was clearly a knife-and-fork sandwich--I tried to pick it up with my hands and it immediately started to fall apart. The sandwich was simply too big and too messy to eat with my hands.
We finished off the meal sampling some desserts--crème brulee, a flourless chocolate cake, an apple galette and a bread pudding. Sadly, I wasn't so impressed with the desserts--with the exception of the bread pudding, they all suffered some fatal flaw (e.g., overcooked crème brulee custard, crumbly chocolate cake, overly crisp apples). Sure, they were tasty, but after such a delicious meal, I was hoping for equally delicious desserts. I guess you can't have your cake and eat it too?
Service was quite nice and the location and atmosphere are great. I highly recommend sitting outside--the Valley's sunny weather is the perfect vacation from the gloomy fog that's all too common on the Monterey Peninsula.
